• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To MakeupMakeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

A beauty blog blooming with fresh makeup reviews, swatches and beauty tips from your friendly neighborhood beauty addict

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
    • Advertising & Media
  • Categories
    • Product Reviews
    • Makeup
    • Skincare & Fragrance
    • Style & Fashion
    • Hair
    • Nails
    • Tips & Tutorials
    • Just for Fun
  • Brands
  • Store

How to Line Your Lips

October 29th, 2015 by Karen 25 Comments

I swear, sometimes lip liner makes me feel like the most uncoordinated person to have ever lived. On the one hand, it should be easy, right? I mean, if a kindergartner can trace a picture of a unicorn in a coloring book, a grown woman should be able to outline her lips, but nooo! Try it sometime with a dark plummy black or red. Not easy. Drawing a symmetrical, even outline can be a lot harder than it looks, especially with really bright or dark shades.

Breaking the whole process down into baby steps helps, like using short strokes with the pencil and drawing the lines on my upper lip in an upward direction.

This video is a little different than my usual review videos. It’s more on the instructional side. I hope you find it helpful, and I hope it inspires you to rock a good lip liner soon. Now’s a great time for deep plums, reds and browns. 🙂

Products mentioned

  • Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm ($19)
  • Hourglass Panoramic Lip Pencil in Raven ($28)
  • MAC Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger ($17)

As always, thank you for watching.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How to Line Your Lips / Originally published October 29th, 2015

There are 25 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Lips, Makeup Tips/How To, Video

Previous Post: MAC Unsung Heroes: Layin’ Low Paint Pot
Next Post: The Essie Winter 2015 Collection

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Genesis says

    October 29th, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    Oh my gosh Karen thank you so much for this video!! I bought my first lip pencil last week and looked everywhere online to see if I could find a tutorial for what to do with it. I didn’t find anything helpful and made a mess of trying to line and fill in my lips. I was about to give up on the whole idea and then I saw this post!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 29th, 2015 at 8:52 pm

      Hi Genesis,

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy and hope that it makes it easier for you. What pencil did ya buy?

      Happy (almost) Friday!

      Reply
      • Genesis says

        October 29th, 2015 at 8:56 pm

        I bought MAC Whirl because I fell in love with the color and had to have it! The only problem is it really dries out my lips. Any tips on how to fight that?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 29th, 2015 at 9:03 pm

          Lots of advanced prep helps. I do a thick layer of lip balm before I go to sleep, and then when I put my makeup on in the morning, I apply another layer to let it sink in while I’m working on the rest of my face. You can blot it down and keep a thin layer of it on underneath your lip liner. Or, you can just wear your liner, and then layer a balm on top. I do that all the time. 🙂

          Reply
          • Genesis says

            October 29th, 2015 at 9:05 pm

            Ah that makes sense! I will definitely try that next time along with your other tips! Thanks so much for your help!

          • Karen says

            October 30th, 2015 at 8:32 am

            You’re very welcome! Let me know how it goes. 🙂

  2. Erin says

    October 29th, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    Lip lining is definitely sounds like something that SHOULD be really easy, but these tips are super helpful. I don’t use liner all that much, probably because my technique could use some help! Loved this.
    Erin recently posted … Review + Giveaway! Maple Holistics Natural Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:36 am

      Hi Erin,

      So glad you found it useful!

      Reply
  3. Ania says

    October 30th, 2015 at 1:50 am

    This video is so awesome and helpful! I find this whole lip liner business really confusing. I have maaany lipsticks, some quite bright or dark, and I never use lip liner with them. Not only because of my lack of skills but also because I don’t know which liner to buy. I mean, should the liner match the lipstick exactly? Should I have a different liner for each color of lipstick? I have really laid back and lazy approach to make up and this almost seems like too much effort for me :).

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:36 am

      Hi Ania,

      The liner doesn’t need to match the lipstick exactly, although I think if you’re doing a very bright color or a dark color it does help to have something close or at least very similar to help keep the lipstick within the boundary of your natural lip line. If you’re happy with skipping the liner then I say don’t worry about it, and if one day you feel motivated to start trying, then get a liner that works with the most-loved lipstick in your collection. HTH, and let me know if you have any other questions.

      Reply
  4. LindaLibraLoca says

    October 30th, 2015 at 3:57 am

    My biggest problem is that my lips aren’t even, and if I outline them, it becomes even more obvious…
    LindaLibraLoca recently posted … Going through phases – Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer + Treatment

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:33 am

      You can always use liner to correct any unevenness. That’s what I do.

      Reply
  5. Kiss & Make-up says

    October 30th, 2015 at 4:03 am

    The way you feel about lip liner is the way I feel about liquid eyeliner, lol. Raven is a really nice shade for you. Thanks for showing us your technique! I actually don’t really have a ‘system’, I don’t really think about what I’m doing much, oops 🙂
    Kiss & Make-up recently posted … Review | New Le Petit Marseillais soap and shower products fall 2015

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:33 am

      Hope this helps!

      Reply
  6. jessica says

    October 30th, 2015 at 7:24 am

    I don’t have any lip liners…I don’t line.
    jessica recently posted … Expectations

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:32 am

      Never to late to start!

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    October 30th, 2015 at 8:38 am

    I hear you 100%. My lips definitely aren’t symmetrical so it just adds that extra layer of difficulty. And I’m also a lip rubber/smoosher so there was a time when the lip color had worn off but the stark, uneven liner line remained. HAHA! I started coloring in my whole lip with liner after that mess! I don’t line enough to get good at it but totally appreciate all your tips, as always! 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 30th, 2015 at 8:42 am

      Mine aren’t either so I always end up using liner to correct the symmetry! It makes a difference (especially in pictures).

      Reply
  8. Pavithra says

    October 30th, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    I loved it! I’ve been on a NARS Audacious kick lately, and those need liners, I often find though that my cupid’s bow goes missing after I line my lips. Will try your method for sure, thank you Karen 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jane says

    October 30th, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    I don’t use a lip liner that much, but when I do, I use a nude one. My favorite is Bobbi Brown’s Ballet Pink. I have a similar issue with eyeliner pencils. I have used gel liners for years, but have recently started using longwear pencils. I can never make a line that is symmetical on both eyes. It always gets messy. I have started to do it in small steps as opposed to one line.

    Reply
  10. Rachel R. says

    October 30th, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    You did a great job explaining/showing. I agree that smaller lines are teh way to go. I frequently apply the lipliner after my lipstick, too. I know it sounds weird, but it works for me.

    Reply
  11. Debra says

    October 30th, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    Karen, what foundation are you wearing? I love it!

    Reply
  12. Nicole says

    October 30th, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    I line my lips almost every day and always struggle to get it right. I usually have to go back and fix it somewhere. I’m going to try this method. I love these videos and the look you are wearing too BTW!

    Reply
  13. Icequeen81 says

    October 30th, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    Love the tips, Karen, I have the same problem, I will try this out to not make mistakes, you see I only have reds, plums, and browns so basically all those shades that are not easy to apply.

    I will try also to find a mirror that is more in front of my face or below like yours, we have a mirror at home I need to be on my tiptoes to see myself on it, not handy if you want to be precise

    Reply
  14. Chelsea says

    October 30th, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    I’ve been wanting to try the Nuxe lip balm, especially with winter coming!

    I’ve been doing lipliner a bit lately, NYX in Nude Pink! Since it’s natural-looking, it’s pretty easy to work with.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

SHOP THE STORE


Long Live Lipstick Tee 💄



Blush Is My Crush Tee



Mascara & Kitties Tee



Thank You For Being a Friend Tee



You Hair Me Tee


Recent Posts

duri burgundy charade

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

be strong coffee mug youve got this

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 662

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 643

window bed balcony

Saturday Surfing, Jan. 23, 2021

briogeo at ulta

Briogeo Now at Ulta!

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Featured Posts

Lady Unicorn

Weird Things I Like to Do

brows fill out beforehand

Before You Pluck or Wax Your Brows, You Must Do This

current bare skin status

What’s One Thing That Drastically Changed Your Skin for the Better?

red brown smokey eyes tutorial top pic 2

A Glamorously Grungy Makeup Tutorial: Smoky Reddish Brown Eyes and Vampy Matte Lips [MODERATE SKILL LEVEL]

Copyright © 2020 Makeup and Beauty Blog. Get in touch.